Recollections of Blaisdon Hall
National Newsletter
THE BLAISDON PREFECTURE
Father Harold Wrangham. (1906-1991) - Rector. Formerly Prefect of Studies at Salesian College Battersea, London. A tall, saintly austere man. As he prayed in the chapel his balding head in profile reminded me of a bust of the head of a Roman emperor. The back of his cassock was always shiny due to many hours of working in his study. After saying morning Mass he would, weather depending, walk up and down on the terrace outside the chapel: through its bay windows boys could see him saying his Rosary or reading his Breviary - The Holy Office. Sometimes he walked in conversation with Lady Crawley-Boevy, Blaisdon School benefactor and catholic wife of protestant Sir Lancelot of nearby Flaxley Abbey. Father Wrangham was looked upon with awe and reverence by all the boys and was paid the highest respect by his Salesian community of priests and lay-brothers. He participated in football and cricket only on official
Feast-Days and was notable for wearing his old school cap (Farnborough Salesian College) on such occasions. Playing as a half-back, he cut in sharply from either wing and usually got himself out at cricket when he knocked off fifty runs: mainly boundaries. He often played tennis on the lawn leading to the long passage of trees known as The Monk's Walk. A snuff taker. Father Rector met with every boy in his office at least once a year. See "Going to see Father Rector." Scenes from an Examined Life Book 2 - "Blaisdon Made Me!"
Father William Wilson. (1915-1963) - Prefect of the House. Nicknamed "Bulldog." His main rôle was
Bursar and he was responsible for the functioning of all the school's domestic arrangements. He had two offices. One was for administration where the telephone switchboard was and another where the strong room/safe was situated. Operating from the latter place he reluctantly provided the boys with special items such as new boots, blazers etc., These sessions were conducted after tea on Tuesday evenings where, assisted by a hovering Brother Edward Barron, Bulldog employed an approach which was essentially a battle of wits. "Boots!" he would roar. "Boots!" "Yes Father, worn out Father." "Take them to Brother Gerald and get them soled"! You had to make a strong well argued case to get any clothing or footwear replacement from him. "I need a pair of new socks Father". "Socks! Socks?" Yes, Father they've got spuds in them. "Darn them boy, darn them!" He was tall and heavily built with huge beefy hands and his face was usually purple in colour yet, belying his nickname and intimidating presence, he was essentially a gentle giant and was only helping boys to be assertive.
When on Refectory Supervisor duty Fr. Wilson read aloud during the earlier part of the meals. He particularly liked the Biggles books by
W. E. Johns and adventure stories featuring Bulldog (loud cheers) Drummond. He loved nothing more than helping George Austin, groundsman and landscape gardener, mow the lawns with the Dennis petrol mower or leading groups of boys on coppicing work in the extensive woods surrounding Blaisdon Hall. A supporter of lowly Derby County FC and when playing cricket, sported the cap of Derbyshire County Cricket Club. Bulldog had the most unusual bowling action. Basically it was a "throw".
To liven up House-Matches the House Master would sometimes put himself in to bat or take over the bowling. This was a signal for all to retire to the boundaries. On one such occasion Kevin Giblin, umpire at the bowler's end called "No Ball" six times consecutively. Each time Fr. Wilson responded "Discipline Mark - Giblin!" When batting, Bulldog informed the umpire that LBW did not apply in his case. At football he was judged "a bonker": toe punting the ball in whatever direction he happened to be facing at the time. He was the Alban House Master when I was its Captain and a very enthusiastic motivator for its success in all areas. He was always handing out marks.
Once in the refectory he called out "Discipline Mark, Brady". "What was that for Father?" I enquired. "For golloping!" he replied. I was eating my food too fast! When Father Wilson was saying Mass he would stop in mid-action and stare round and glare at the noise maker. Instead of achieving the desired effect his face prompted a fit of uncontrollable merriment in the watching boys. He liked to cycle. One day, a boy fixed the rear wheel of his bike so that when Bulldog started peddling, it went backwards..
Father James Docherty. (1910-1999) - Prefect of Religion. A Scotsman who as a boy worked as an apprentice riveter in the Clyde Shipyard. He was responsible for all the boy's religious training aspects and an absolute stickler for correct altar and chapel behavior. He arranged all the Mass Server's Rotas and posted these on the school notice-board every Saturday morning. A boy had only to shout out: "I'm/you're on the "bucket" - the nick-name for the incense senser/ the thurible - for him to go into a temper and spray bad marks everywhere. He would stand at the back of the chapel and intervene directly in a ceremony such as Mass or Benediction if a boy serving at the altar was sloppy or inattentive or showing irreverence. We were taught religious doctrine in class by him via The Catechism and he presented every new boy with the Salesian
Prayer book. The most intense demonstration of his piety was when in chapel he intoned the Prayers for a Happy Death on the first Friday of the month. This one, number four from a total of thirteen invocations is readily recalled:
"When my face, pale and livid, shall inspire the bystanders with compassion and awe, and my hair bathed in the sweat of death, and stiffening on my head, shall forebode my approaching end, Merciful Jesus - have mercy on
me".
Fr. Docherty taught appreciation of religious art and introduced us to the main heresies that the Catholic Church contended with during the centuries. He would often refer to "Fenelon & Bosuett.." It was not unusual for him to be reading religious works that ranged from the heavy Summa Theologica by St. Thomas Aquinas to lighter fare such as Morris West's, In the Shoes of the
Fishermen. I remember him particularly as a brilliant inside forward at soccer and a supporter of both Celtic and Rangers football teams.
Father John Connolly. (1920-1991) - Prefect of Studies. Conducting the school brass band and producing plays and pantomimes was when he was happiest and entirely approachable. Outside these times he was, as Headmaster, responsible for discipline and liaised daily with the four Housemasters of Alban,
A' Becket, Fisher and More. Although rugby was never played the school was run like a quasi Public School. Lines were handed out: "I shall not talk after The Goodnight - 100 times." Prep. Cross Country Runs; House Matches; Sports Day, Army Cadets, Choir, Founder's Day, Refectory Duties; Country Walks, Chapel, Infirmary; Matron.
Our Headmaster's personal approach for maintaining systematic order was a most incisive sarcasm. He oversaw the system of Good or Bad House conduct, merit and discipline Marks which were dispensed by priests and lay-brothers and entered on a sheet displayed in each classroom. These were totted up every Saturday morning and the ritual of "Marks" took place when he toured the classrooms handing out finely honed, humiliating sarcasm to recalcitrants and motivational encouragement to good achievers.
The winning House was awarded High Tea or discounted Tuck-Shop. Those with 5 or more bad conduct Marks got - as a last resort - good old fashioned public school corporal punishment in the bend-over position. This was dispensed by Father Connolly in his office witnessed by a priest who noted the number of bamboo cane strokes in a Punishment Book. The strokes were delivered on trouser protected buttocks: usually no more than two: "Six of the Best!" was extremely rare. I can remember one such Saturday when I was caned but the second occasion was particularly memorable.
One Friday in Lent, the lunch-time boiled fish was most unusually foul and led to a shameful event after the meal. Outside the boys refectory was a hatch that served the Community refectory: it was always closed when the boys exited en masse. Someone in the dense melee banged on the hatch and when it was opened by Mr. Higgins ("Wiggins") because of his toupee, he, instead of compliments, got a lump of fish full in his face. The repercussions were most serious. Father Connolly cancelled all that afternoon's activities and demanded the culprit admit his action or be named by his fellows. Nobody complied. General detention was declared and a 24 hour ultimatum issued: "Confess or Inform otherwise the whole school will be caned!"
The deadline passed and every boy lined up for the bend-over and two strokes of the cane: one for not owning up another for not telling. I was 25th in the line of 45 and thinking Father Connolly would be off guard, I put a copy of the Beano in the seat of my trousers. Alas! with the first stroke I was "sounded" and ended up getting a total of four: two delayed until the following Saturday. Later, there was a collective apology to Mr. Higgins who stressed his strong regret about the caning, while forgiving whoever was responsible for, what everyone agreed, was insulting and extremely regrettable behavior.
I remember all four priests with an affection and admiration that endures: their influence has enhanced my life. Father Rector because he was holy, kind and gave me my first job. Father Wilson taught me how to be assertive without being aggressive. He stimulated my appreciation of the plays of William Shakespeare when he directed the school production of Julius Caesar. Father Docherty passed on his deep love of the Catholic faith and inspired the beginnings of my appreciation of Christian Art. Father Connolly shaped my personality and moulded my character in ways that made it possible for me to exercise authority with responsibility and a balanced sense of justice in my professional life. He was an extraordinary caring person as I learned later when I was working on Stud Farm. He moved from the position of Prefect of Studies to Infirmarian and looked after me whenever I was ill.
I cannot forget that these men - each now rests in the great heart of Christ - dedicated their lives to the care and education of boys and remained faithful in their vocation. I was fortunate and privileged to have been placed in a situation where I came under their influence. Their example and the words they spoke from the Epistle when celebrating their Mass on the feast day of their founder St. John Bosco are a continual reminder and blessing:
"Whatsoever things are true, modest, just, holy, lovely, of good fame, if there be any virtue, in any praise of discipline, think on these things. The things which you have both learned, received, heard and seen in me These do Ye, and the God of peace shall be with you"
Lesson of St. Paul to the Philippians. iv, 4-9
Tony Brady. March 2010